Rotary can washer



July 3,71951 w. s. CAMPBELL ROTARY cAN WASHER Filed Aug. 19, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 als# July 3, 1951 w. s. CAMPBELL ROTARY 'CAN WASHER 2 Sleets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 19, 1940 f/z//ezzfoff Patented July 3, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROTARY CAN WASHER Willard S. Campbell, Hampshire, Ill., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Cherry-Burrell Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation o! Delaware Application August 19, 1940, Serial No. 353,240

This invention relates to an apparatus for washing, sterilizing and drying containers and covers, including milk cans, in a continuous operation.

The objects of this invention are to provide a rotary can Washer which washes, sterilizes and dries in an uninterrupted, continuous operation without the loud and jarring stops and starts of the intermittent apparatuses of the prior art; to supply a construction in which the parts are arranged Without the use of additional space adjacent the positions and parts they serve, said parts all being more readily accessible for attention as well as more efficiency and economically serving their particular functions; to create a construction in which intersplashing between divisions or stages of the operation cycle is eliminated, thereby preventing mixing of solutions and temperatures and insuring maximum results; to provide a can controlled and operated valve construction, thereby saving water and heat; to provide a steam turbine which not only operates the rotary drive, but also provides steam for heating the sterile rinse, and such other objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and which are inherently possessed by this invention.

While the accompanying drawings illustrate a preferred form of the invention, yet it should be understood that the same is susceptible of modification andl change without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a rotary can washer; Fig. 2 is an elevational view drawn on line 2--2 of Fig. l with the upper part in sectional view to illustrate the spider; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the frame illustrating the position of the pumps and motors; Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of an improved grid for supporting containers; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the collecting pan and associated devices illustrating the details of construction; Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view of the spider; Fig. 7 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the device in operation.

The embodiment selected to illustrate the invention comprises a frame I0 of structural steel or other suitable material supported on a plurality of spaced ball feet Il. A large substan- .tially rectangular tank I2 is supported on the frame I0. Within tank I2 is built a smaller tank 7 Claims. (Cl. B11- 53) I3. A substantially circular pan I4 is attached 2 to the large tank I2 so as to vpermit drainage of liquid from pan I 4 into tank I2. Extending upwardly from the outer edges of pan I 4 are abbreviated side walls I5. A housing I6 is removably supported on pan I4 with the lower part of the side walls 33 of the housing I6 resting within side walls I5. A conical hood I1 is welded or otherwise attached to the upper portion of the housing I6. An opening I8 is provided in the top portion of the hood I7 for the accommodation if desired of an exhaust draft system for the removal of vapors and steam from within the housing I6. Mounted on the pan I4 inwardly from walls I5 and at spaced intervals are three cradles I9, within each of which a shaft 20 rotatably supports a wheel 2I. One of the shafts 26 and its associated wheel 2l are driven as hereinafter set forth.

The other two shafts 20 and associated wheels 2l are idlers.

A spider or can carrying construction 22 rotates on said wheels 2I. The spider 22 has at its bottom a substantially circular track or channel 23 formed of a structural channel with a substantially at bodv portion or web 24 between downwardly extending flanges 25. The web 24 rides on the wheels 2I which are faced to flt the internal prole of the channel 23. The flanges 25 prevent accidental lateral disengagement.

The spider 22 has a substantially centrally lopartitions may be xed in position as by welding,

or they may be removably secured in position by suitable slot and pin means at the top and bottom points of the elements 2& wl1ere they engage the supporting and spacing elements 23, 26 and 3|.

In each compartment 30 a removable grid 32 is provided, having portions to support a milk can and cover in inverted position.

An entrance and exit opening 311 is provided in side walls 33 of housing I6. Spaced from opening 34 and from each other are two openings 35 with removable or hinged access doors 36.

Within the pan Il, and below the spider 22, the space is divided by partitions 3l and vertical splash guards 38 into the following flve divisions is -a steam header 49.

or positions: First, the feed and discharge position 39; second, the pre-rinse position 40; third. the wash position 4I ;.fourth, the sterile rinse and steam position 42; and fifth, the air drying position 92. A splash guard 43 is provided at the inner edges of positions 39 and 40 and extending upwardly from an inward extension of the pan I4 which overlaps the part of the tank I2 underneath the stations 39 and 40, as illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings. The partitions 31 and splash guards 38 are provided to prevent intersplashing and mixing'of waters between positions, to insure a perfect cleansing of cans and covers, and to conserve heat and water.

In the feed position 39 a milk can and cover are positioned on a grid 32.

Within the cold water rinse or pre-rinse position 40 and extending through and above the panV I4 is a headerv 44 and nozzles 45 for internallyv and externally rinsing and spraying the can and cover with cold water.

The flow of water is can controlled as follows. Pivotally attached to each grid 32 is a lever or dog 62 weighted to normally be in upright position as shown in Fig. 4. It is adapted upon receipt of the weight of a milk can or the like thereon to move to horizontal position. When' in horizontal position and upon rotation of the spider 22 lever 62 is adapted to contact a second lever 63 attached to the whistle valve 53 to thereby open the valve. Upon removal of the can the counterweighted dog 62 moves to normal upright position and a spring attached to the valve lever 63 moves the lever oi the valve so that the valve is closed and the water passing therethrough is stopped, thereby resulting in substantial and automatic saving ofwater. A similar closing of the valve results upon the disengagement of lever 62 and 63 during the rotation of the spider 22.

Within the wash position 4I and extending through and above the pan I4 is a header 46 with a plurality of nozzles 41 adapted to provide a continuous ow of water impregnated with a suitable cleansing agent.- The used liquid collects in the pan I4 and drains into the large tank I2 from whence it is drained through strainer 90 which communicates with the pump 55 for purposes of recirculation by pump means 55 into conduits in feeding connection with header 46 and nozzles 41. Excess accumulation of Wash water in tank I2 drains therefrom into the drain or overilow 94 which is so adjusted as to maintain a desired level of uid in tank I2. r

Within thesterile rinse position 42, a sterile rinse header 48 extends upwardly through pan I4 for the spraying of water within the can and cover at an extremely high temperature. hot water collects in pan I4 and drains into large tank I2 toreplenish and freshen the supply therein. Beyond the sterile rinse header 48 The now of hot `water and the ow' of the steam in the sterile rinse position 42 is can controlled in the same manner that the flow of cold water is can controlled in the cold water rinse position 40. In the fifth or air drying posiiton 92 there is provided an air duct 50 within pan I4 for continuously supplying either hot or cold air to dry the inside surface of a can and cover as they pass by on the moving spider 22. ,A 1-

As the washed, sterilized and dry can and cover move to the entry and exit position 39 the Used 4 can and cover are removed and another can and cover to be cleaned are placed on grid 32.

The large tank I2` acts as a reservoir for solution to be used at the wash position. The smaller tank I3 is used for the purpose of providing make-up'water for the sterile rinse position.

Water is supplied to the large tank I2 by a water inlet pipe 5I. This water is heated and maintained at a given temperature by a thermostatically controlled steam supply member 52.

In the small .tank I3 the water supply is controlled by a float valve 54 whereby a constant lever of Water is maintained in tank I3.

Hot air may be provided through the air duct 50. When hot air is provided radiator 9|, positioned in the inlet to the fan 60, is Iheated in a conventional Ymanner by steam supplied from a suitable source of supply (connections not shown) with provisions for draining the condensate (connections not shown) into tank I3.

On the frame IIJ is -positioned a pump 55.V

Pump 55 is positioned directly underthe wash position 4I and is provided for the recirculation of the wash water. The thermostatically controlled supply member 52 is positioned adjacent to said pump 55 and under wash position 4I..

Pump 56 and a, thermostatically controlled steam supply member 51 for securing and maintaining a high temperature in the sterile rinse water are positioned on the frame I0 below the sterile rinse position 42.

Also on the frame I0 below the sterile rinse position 42 there is provided a steam turbine 58 having an extended shaft 59. One` end/of the shaft 59 drives the fan 60 for providing drying air to the air duct 50. The other end of the shaft 59 drives the adjacent transmission (il-which in turn drives one of the wheels 2I to rotate the spider 22. The steam turbine 58 also provides exhaust steam, the condensate from which, through suitable piping (not shown), drains into the small tank I3 to aid in heating the sterile rinse solution and uncondensated steam passes by suitable piping (not shown) to sterile rinse makeup tank I3.

'Ihe duct 50 is also supported on the frame I0 and positioned directly below the drying station 92.

It will be noted that the spider 22 moves continuously during the various stages of the operation cycle. The movement of the spider 22 is timed and the circumferential extent of the several operation positions is such that a container wash position 4I for approximately fourteen seconds, the sterile rinse and steam position 42 approximately seven seconds for sterile rinse, and approximately five seconds for steam treatment and in the drying position 92, for ten seconds for hot or cold air treatment. Feed and removal of cans and covers in position 39 may easily be made during movement of the spider. 'Ihe above periods of time are merely illustrative and may be increased or decreased according to the size of the positions, the treatments' to be given, and other factors. The important feature is the continuous, quiet movement during the operations of the complete cycle.

Safety as a feature of this invention is secured by providing that the area of the rollers 2|, particularly the driving roller, in contact with track 23 combined with a desired co-eicient of friction as exists between cast iron and steel is such that any additional force or load in excess of that required for the normal operation of the improved washer will immediately stop the rotation of the otherwise continuously moving spider 22. This safety feature is permissible for the reason" that there is no timing for interrupted intermittent movement.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a rotary can washer, a tank for wash water, a housing in which to wash a can, said housing being superimposed and supported upon said tank and laterally overhanging a portion of said tank, a plurality of stationary partition means dividing the lower portion of the interior of said housing into a feed and discharge division, a pre-rinse division, a wash division, a sterile rinse and steam division and a drying division, means for supplying cold water into the housing above the pre-rinse division, means for supplying water with a cleansing agent from said tank for wash water into the housing above the wash division, means for suplying hot water and steam into the housing above the sterile rinse and steam division, and means for providing drying air into the housing above the drying division, a spider within said housing and adapted to removably support a plurality of containers and covers, and means for continuously rotating said spider so that said containers and covers may be continuously treated while moving continuously over said divisions.

2. A rotary can washer according to claim l. wherein the partition means are so constructed and arranged as to prevent the cold water in the pre-rinse division and the water and cleansing agent in the wash division from freely passing from such respective divisions into other divisions.

3. In a rotary can washer a tank for wash Water, a housing in which to wash a can, said housing being superimposed and supported upon said tank and laterally overhanging a portion of said tank, a plurality 0f stationary partition means dividing the lower portion of the interior of said housing into a feed and. discharge division, a prerinse division, a wash division, a sterile rinse division and a drying division, means for supplying cold water into the housing above the pre-rinse division, means for supplying water with a cleansing agent from said tank for wash water into the housing above the wash division, means for supplying hot water and steam into the housing above the sterile rinse and steam division and means for providing drying air into the housing above the drying division, a spider within said housing and adapted to removably support a plurality of containers and covers, and means for continuously rotating said spider so that said containers and covers may be continuously treated while moving continuously over said divisions, said means for supplying cold water into the housing above the pre-rinse division including a header, a whistle valve attached to and adapted to control the flow of liquid through said header and means operable by a container carried on said spider for actuating said whistle valve as the container is carried over the valve by said spider.

4. A rotary can Washer comprising a frame, a substantially rectangular tank mounted on said frame, a substantially circular pan attached to and overlapping said tank about a portion of the outer periphery of said tank, said pan having downwardly and inwardly sloping portions and abbreviated side walls at its outer edge, a housing supported on said pan with the lower extremity of its side Walls positioned Within the abbreviated side walls of said pan, a conical hood attached to the upper portion of said housing, a plurality of spaced wheels rotatably mounted on said pan,

a spider having a track positioned so that said track contacts and is supported on said wheels, said spider being radially divided by a plurality of partitions into a plurality of compartments, grid means removably positioned at the bottom of each of said compartments, said grid being adapted to support a container in inverted position and concurrently support a cover for said container in inclined position, partitions dividing the space between said pan and said spider into a feed and discharge division, a pre-rinse division, a wash division, a sterile rinse and steam division and a drying division, a header and nozzles in the pre-rinse division communicating with a cold water supply, a header and nozzles in the wash division for providing water impregnated with a cleansing agent and communicating with a wash water compartment of said tank, a sterile rinse header in the sterile rinse and steam division for providing high temperature Water from a sterile rinse compartment of said tank, and a steam header in the sterile rinse and steam division for providing steam thereinto, and an air duct in the drying division for providing drying air thereinto, and means mounted on said frame and connected by a transmission with one of said wheels for continuously rotating said spider so that containers and covers on the grids within the compartments of said spider may be continuously treat/ed while moving continuously over said divisions.

5. In a rotary can washer, a frame, a tank having wash water and sterile rinse compartments mounted on said frame, a pan attached to and overlapping said tank, a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted on said pan, a housing supported on said pan, a cover attached to said housing, al

spider rotatably mounted on said wheels, partitions dividing the space between the pan and spider into a feed and discharge division, a prerinse division, a wash division, a sterile rinse and steam division, and a drying division, a header and nozzles in said pre-rinse division communicating with a cold water supply, a header and nozzles in said wash division for providing water impregnated with a cleansing agent and communicating with the wash water compartment of said tank, a sterile rinse header in the sterile rinse and steam division for providing high temperature water from the sterile rinse compartment of said tank, and a steam header in the sterile rinse and steam divisionior providing steam thereinto, and an air duct in the drying division for providing drying air into the drying division, a pump and thcrmostatically controlled steam supply element positioned below the wash division and communicating with the wash water compartment of said tank for supplying the header and nozzles in said division with heated water impregnated with a cleansing agent from the wash water compartment of said tank, a second pump and a second thermostatically controlled steam supply element positioned below the sterile rinse header and communicating with thel 7 tank, a sterile water header and a steam header in said division, means for supplying sterile rinse water from said tank to said sterile water header, a rotatably mounted spider adapted to hold containers and covers and arranged to move them for treatment in sequence rst over said sterile water header and next over said steam header, a steam turbine arranged to rotate said spider, and means for conducting exhaust steam from said turbine to said sterile rinse water tank whereby to add 'heat to the sterile rinse water'before it passes through the sterile water header.

7. In a rotary can washer, a tank for wash water, a housing in which to wash a can, said housingbeing superimposed and supported upon said tank and laterally overhanging a portion of said tank, a plurality of stationary partition means dividing the lower portion of the interior ofY said housing into a feed and discharge division, a pre-rinse division, a wash division. a sterile rinse and steam division and a drying' division, means for supplying cold water into the housing above the pre-rinse division. means for supplying water with a cleansing agent from said tank for wash Water into the housing above the wash division, means for supplying hot water and steam into the housing above the sterile rinse and steam division, and means for providing drying air into the housing above the drying division, a spider within said housing and adapted to removably support a. plurality of containers and covers, means for continuously rotating said spider so that said containers and covers may be continuously treated while moving continuously over said divisions, header means associated with said means for supplying cold water into the housing above the pre-rinse division and with the means for supplying hot water and steam into the housing above the sterile rinse and steam division, whistle valve means attached to and controlling said header means, said whistle valve means being normally closed, valve lever means attached to'said whistle valve means, said spider having a plurality of compartments, a grid in each of said compartments adapted to hold a container, and

dog means attached to each said grid, each said dog means being counterwelghted to be in normally upright position, and each said dog means being adapted upon pressure of a container placed thereagainst on said grid to move into horizontal position and contact said valve lever means and cause it in turn to move said whistle valve means to open position, said dog means being adapted upon the removal of a container to swing to upright position and away from contact with said valve lever means, permitting the valve lever means to release thewhistle valve means and allow the whistle valve means to return to normally closed position.

WIILARD S. CAMPBELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille ot this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,520,110 Blakeslee Dec. 23, 1924 1,604,455 Larsen Oct. 26, 1926 1,625,493 OConnell et al Apr. 9, 1927 1,681,839 Breton Aug. 21, 1928 1,703,946 Melish Mar. 5, 1929 1,707,159 Burnham Mar. 26, 1929 1,755,101 Clark et al Apr. 15, 1930 1,879,224 Hauk Sept. 27, 1932 1,909,835 Kendall May 16, 1933 1,910,931 Newsome May 23, 1933 1,972,711 Kendall Sept. 4, 1934 2,018,000 Williams Oct. 22, 1935 2,082,285 Greer June 1, 1937 2,122,018 Wolf June 28, 1938 2,189,451 Peters Feb. 6, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 585.112 France Feb. 21, 1925 5,985 Australia June 14, 1927 66,732 Sweden Feb. 5, 1929 52,793 Denmark Mar. 8, 1937 

